Blaye

Blaye (French: [blaj]) is a commune and subprefecture in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Population

Its inhabitants are called Blayais or the Blayaises.

Geography

Blaye is located on the right bank of the Gironde estuary (which is some 3 km (1.9 mi) wide at this point), close to the A10 autoroute, 56 km (35 mi) north of Bordeaux. There is a rail line with occasional freight trains, but no passenger services. A small ferry crosses the Gironde to Lamarque, in Medoc.

History

In ancient times Blaye (Blavia) was a port of the Santones. Tradition states that the Frankish hero Roland was buried in its basilica, which was on the site of the citadel. It was early an important stronghold which played an important part in the wars against the English (who burnt it in 1352) and the French Wars of Religion (when it was the site of a Spanish naval victory in 1593). The duchess of Berry was imprisoned in its fortress in 1832-1833.

The town was formerly named Blaye-et-Sainte-Luce and was renamed Blaye in June 1961.

Blaye (wine)

Blaye is a wine region in Bordeaux, centred on the town of Blaye, producing both red and white wine, plus a small amount of rosé and sparkling wine. It is located on the right bank of the River Gironde, and surrounds Côtes de Bourg.

Appellations d'origine contrôlée

A number of different Appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOCs) apply, or have previously applied, to Blaye. In 1936, 3 AOCs were created for this region: Blaye AOC, Côtes de Blaye AOC and Premières Côtes de Blaye AOC. These all covered the same geographical area, with Premières Côtes de Blaye including the most prestigious properties. These AOCs were revised in the 1990s, and Blaye AOC was used for the top reds (while still being used for some simple dry whites). In 2007, the AOCs were revised again. Blaye AOC is now exclusively red, and Côtes de Blaye AOC is exclusively white.Premières Côtes de Blaye has been absorbed into Côtes de Bordeaux AOC, which covers both red and white wines, and may have the word Blaye appended, subject to stricter controls. Rosé wines are not covered by any of these AOCs, and must be sold under a generic Bordeaux appellation.